Pat Cerasaro - Page 212

Today we begin a new comprehensive academic music discussion series on BroadwayWorld in which I speak to the most cutting-edge artists in the recording industry, on Broadway and in Hollywood about their influences and experiences in the industry with an emphatic emphasis on the songwriting process itself and what drives and inspires it. While these discussions may be on occasion only tangentially theatre-related, the insights provided by the various participants is a demonstrative way in which to illuminate perhaps the most mysterious of all the arts: music. Peering into the psyche of the composer and lyricist, we may begin to understand what the craft of composition and lyric-writing is all about and why musical theatre tends to attract the most talented and innovative songwriters, both in the twentieth-century and today (as this column proves).

This week, in honor of the world premiere exclusive reveal of the first image of Mother Gothel from Disney's newest animated feature film TANGLED starring the voices of Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi and Donna Murphy as Gothel, we are taking a look at the trailer and some exciting new interviews and clips from the modern-day take on the classic Grimms' Rapunzel fairy tale as an action-packed 3D musical adventure featuring songs by five-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken along with lyricist Glenn Slater and directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard. BroadwayWorld has been chosen as the premier site for TANGLED-related premieres and be sure to stay tuned in the coming weeks for exclusive InDepth InterViews with Donna Murphy, Nathan Greno, Byron Howard and other hair-raising excitement!

Concluding BroadwayWorld's exclusive three-part series on Edward Albee's newest masterpiece ME, MYSELF & I, comes this exciting and energized interview with the youngest star of the show, playing one of the titular twosome both named Otto, the enthusiastic and expressive Preston Sadleir! In this in-depth conversation we discuss working with Elizabeth Ashley and Brian Murray on ME, MYSELF & I as well as the director, Emily Mann, and the master writer himself, Edward Albee. Additionally, we discuss the rehearsal process at Playwrights' Horizons, the themes of the play, the acting process onstage acting every night with two of the greats, as well as what the play means to not only himself as an actor, but also to the twenty-first century audience coming to see the show (which has just been extended and now runs to October 31st). We also talk about the exciting workshop productions and readings of two burgeoning musicals that are eyeing Broadway soon, including the much anticipated Broadway revival of CARRIE and a new original cougar-themed musical starring Jane Krakowski called MRS. SHARP! Few performers are so at ease in plays and musicals as Preston is - and at barely twenty-five years old - so here is a chance to see why he is one of the hottest new theatrical stars on the rise! Enjoy!

Recently I had the delectable delight of talking to one of the sweetest and sexiest (and shockingly super-talented) stars of stage and screen who can currently be seen on the hit of all TV hits, GLEE, in her recurring role as April Rhodes, as well as in the new Disney comedy YOU AGAIN co-starring Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Bell, Victor Garber, Cloris Leachman and Betty White: the Tony Award and Emmy-winning actress and operatic chanteuse herself, Ms. Kristin Chenoweth! In this BWW exclusive InDepth InterView we talk about filming the first of several new episodes of GLEE for season two, working on Broadway with GLEE lead (and show love interest) Matt Morrison, what singing Sondheim means to her as a person and as a performer, what GLEE means to Broadway, as well as a thorough discussion of her new Disney film YOU AGAIN directed by Andy Fickman. We also touch on her early Broadway work in A NEW BRAIN and the words and music of William Finn. She has it all - and the success in each form of media to prove it - so it is a special treat to present InDepth InterView: Kristin Chenoweth.

Today we talk to the world's foremost authority on twentieth-century music, the incomparable cabaret artist and Broadway performer known for his countless albums and appearances on film, television and stages worldwide, the affable and well-spoken - and encyclopedic - Michael Feinstein! In this SOUND OFF Special Interview he does BroadwayWorld the special honor of diagramming a lesser known gem - in this case, one of Cole Porter's final compositions - in his inimitable and illuminating style, as well as opening up about his new PBS reality series. We simultaneously speak to acclaimed directed Amber Edwards (WORDS & MUSIC: JERRY HERMAN) who also provides her insights on how to approach documentation of a life as rich, varied and hectic as Feinstein's. Lest we forget, he also owns and operates the premier cabaret club in Manhattan, Feinstein's At The Regency! Talking everything from Ira and George to iPods and Glee, Feinstein and Edwards share their insights and experiences in championing the twenty-first century Great American Songbook on television and on the internet in 2010 and bringing Feinstein's formidable talents to a whole new generation. All of that, and more show tunes than you can shake a stick at! Be sure to tune into your local PBS station next Wednesday at 8 PM for the premiere episode of MICHAEL FEINSTEIN'S AMERICAN SONGBOOK!

Earlier this month I had the chance to conduct an InDepth InterView with Drama Desk-winning stage actor and director Brian Murray who currently co-stars with Elizabeth Ashley in Edward Albee's new off-Broadway absurdest farce ME, MYSELF & I and our conversation now constitutes the second part in BroadwayWorld's exclusive 3-part series on the new Albee masterpiece. In this illuminating conversation, in addition to a thorough discussion of ME, MYSELF & I, Murray also dishes on his new 2011 'horrific chiller' co-starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz and Naomi Watts directed by esteemed director Jim Sheridan (MY LEFT FOOT, THE BOXER, GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN', BROTHERS), as well as playing Alec Baldwin and Nathan Lane's alcoholic father on 30 ROCK (married to Elaine Stritch!) and his warm words to his TWELFTH NIGHT co-star Kyra Sedgwick on her recent Emmy win as Best Actress for THE CLOSER! Plus, working with Kevin Kline, Helen Hunt, Marian Seldes, Nathan Lane, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey and much, much more! Enjoy the intelligent wit and impassioned dedication Murray feels for his craft in this introspective InDepth InterView!

Today we have Part I of the BWW Exclusive two-part InDepth InterView with legendary stage and screen actress - and, bar none, the greatest Tennessee Williams actress alive - Tony-winning star, and a legend in her own time: Elizabeth Ashley! In this first part, we talk her early stage career from TAKE HER, SHE'S MINE directed by George Abbott and produced by Hal Prince in the 60s up to AGNES OF GOD opposite Amanda Plummer and Geraldine Page in the early 80s continuing to Tracy Letts' Pulitzer-prize winning opus AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY in 2007 - to say nothing of the central focus of our extended conversation: her most recent role playing the mother of twin sons named Otto (and/or 'otto') in Edward Albee's newest absurdist masterpiece, ME, MYSELF & I, which can currently be seen at Playrights' Horizons! From the grande dame of Williams, to life with Orson Welles, to living on the road (by choice), and a life in the theatre (no choice), Ms. Ashley is a fabulous, veritable walking, talking history of the American theatre in the last forty years and no one - I repeat, no one - can tell a story better than she can! From Mohammad Ali to Edward Albee, this interview has it all! She is one of the greats, onstage and off. There will never be another Liz Ashley and this first part is just half the reason why!

Today we are talking to one of the biggest stars on Broadway and the recipient of a Best Actress Tony Award for her unforgettable performance in the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's PASSION, the star of numerous Broadway musicals and ENCORES! productions such as WONDERFUL TOWN, FOLLIES, and, most recently, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE - and also the voice of the newest villain in a Disney animated feature film, as we saw earlier today in the special still image from TANGLED - the urbane, elegant and endlessly talented stage and screen star Donna Murphy! The BWW World Premiere Exclusive reveal of Ms. Murphy's character Mother Gothel was not the only treat in store for this exciting day in Disney - and BroadwayWorld - history!

Behold the BWW World Premiere Exclusive first look at the reveal of the newest Disney villainess in the pantheon of infamous screen adversaries, the calculating old crone known as Mother Gothel in Disney's Rapunzel update titled TANGLED! This is the very first look at this newest addition to the classic screen characters that have originated at the Mouse over the decades, and with Broadway's best lending the vocal talent and musical material, a fabulous and fantastic treat is surely in store come TANGLED's release in 2011!

This week, in honor of true triple-threat trouper Kristin Chenoweth, we are featuring clips from her many stage and TV performances, as well as some clips from her new Disney feature film comedy YOU AGAIN co-starring Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Victor Garber and Betty White, in addition to some of her most GLEEktastic moments portraying April Rhodes on Fox's smash hit musical comedy series GLEE. We'll also take a look at what makes her a Broadway baby at heart and why the stage will always be the place where her feet are most firmly - and fabulously - planted, as adaptable as she undoubtedly is to all media. She can certainly hold her own on screens large or small, as her Golden Globe-winning performance on PUSHING DAISIES and her Emmy-nominated work on both GLEE and THE WEST WING certainly proved. She can do it all - and do a mean "Nessum Dorma" and "Glitter and Be Gay" to boot - absolutely anywhere - and she's everywhere to be seen in this Glinda edition of FLASHBACK/FLASHFORWARD FRIDAY!

This afternoon I had the delight of talking to one of the sweetest and sexiest (and shockingly super-talented) stars of stage and screen who can currently be seen on the hit of all TV hits, GLEE, in her recurring role as April Rhodes, as well as in the new Disney comedy YOU AGAIN co-starring Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Bell, Victor Garber, Cloris Leachman and Betty White: the Tony Award and Emmy Award-winning actress and operatic chanteuse herself, Ms. Kristin Chenoweth! In this BWW exclusive we talk about filming the first of several new episodes of GLEE next week, working on Broadway with GLEE lead (and show love interest) Matt Morrison, what Sondheim means to her, what GLEE means to Broadway, as well as a thorough look at her new Disney film YOU AGAIN directed by Andy Fickman. This is merely a tease of what's to come in the complete InDepth InterView: Kristin Chenoweth coming next week! Stay tuned to BWW until then! In the complete interview she also comments on working with Matt Morrison, Lea Michele and Ryan Murphy on GLEE, as well as Patti LuPone, Laura Benanti, Barbara Cook and John Doyle in her premiere Sondheim performance and working with Carrie Underwood - and many others! She's a Spring breeze on a Fall day - April (Rhodes) after all! Besides, this is just the bud, you'll have to wait until next week to watch our chat grow into a full bloom!

Today we are taking a listen to one of the most hotly anticipated albums of the year from one of the biggest stars in entertainment history - Hollywood, Broadway and beyond - the incomparably divine Liza Minnelli and her new studio album CONFESSIONS. Having appeared in countless films, concerts, television specials and seemingly every other form of media over the years - not to mention her many appearances on Broadway, among them a 2009 Tony Winner for LIZA'S AT THE PALACE - this lady of the stage and screen needs no introduction. But, if pressed: CABARET, CHICAGO, NEW YORK NEW YORK, ALFIE, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT - and so many more. Surely, we thought she had done it all - and with very good reason - but then comes this moment, this album, this Liza. It's everything you would not expect - plus a few glorious things you would - which makes it the ultimate meta-Minnelli album. Music fans surely won't want to miss this truly Holy CONFESSIONS. Liza-lujah!

In honor of accomplished television and film actor - and one of the stars of the movie of the summer, INCEPTION - Joseph Gordon-Levitt, this Saturday Special shall shine some light on the triple-threat A-list star who is currently in preparation for his theatrical debut at Town Hall on October 28th. All eyes of Hollywood and Broadway will be on him on that momentous night, but if the following clips - or, furthermore, a past featured clip in this column, his SNL hosting gig showcasing him positively nailing SINGIN' IN THE RAIN's "Make 'Em Laugh" complete with athletic and acrobatic accoutrement - are any indication, there is no need to worry. At all. INCEPTION may have all been a dream, but it seems so, too, is the multi-faceted talent of this star-on-the-rise - heck, megastar - taking time out of his packed schedule to do a night of songs, skits, shorts and other surprises which shall introduce a whole new audience to his astonishing gifts exceeding far beyond the television star - of THAT 70s SHOW and 3rd ROCK FROM THE SUN - or films - like (500) DAYS OF SUMMER - that he is best known for, but revealing the blooming and blossoming Broadway baby at the core of his soul. All shall be revealed, but first get gaga for JGL and brush up vous francais for some Brel ala Broadway, Deschanel duets, "Express Yourself", and much more. WARNING: These clips contain explicit language!

Today, in honor of the Broadway premiere of the hardest rocking musical of all-time - yes, that includes AMERICAN IDIOT, RENT and TOMMY - we have a host of clips from the daring and divine BLOODY, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON. Check out last night's performance from LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON as well as the exclusive BWW TV: Behind The Scenes video in addition to the slick, attention-grabbing - and curiosity-provoking - Bruce Springsteen-inspired commercial. PLUS maybe a special surprise or two!

This afternoon I had the pleasure of speaking to Lesley Gore, the iconic 60s pop star and legendary recording artist of 'It's My Party', 'You Don't Own Me' and more, who will be appearing in MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET for one night only on Friday night, September 24, 2010. In our discussion we touched upon the work her brother Michael Gore , the accomplished Oscar-winning songwriter best known for FAME and FOOTLOOSE, has been doing on his 1980s musical version of the Stephen King novel and Brian De Palma film CARRIE. Gore exclusively confirms to BroadwayWorld that plans are indeed afoot to bring CARRIE back to Broadway in a big, beautiful, brilliant new way with a slew of new songs! Be sure to check out the complete SOUND OFF SPECIAL INTERVIEW with Lesley Gore coming later this month!

This afternoon I was lucky enough to score some talk-time with legendary recording artist, Oscar-nominated songwriter and the most iconic female pop singer of the 60s, Ms. Lesley Gore. She will be appearing in Broadway's hit jukebox musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET one night only on Friday night, September 24th, but in this SOUND OFF SPECIAL INTERVIEW she opens up about her illustrious and accomplished career in the studio and on the stage - and also onscreen in an oh-so-classic BATMAN with Julie Newmar - as well some breaking news about her new biographical musical using both the stacks of hit songs she is so famous for and some newly written compositions. As if all that - and compelling recollections of time spent with Liza Minnelli, Jerry Lee Lewis, Quincy Jones, Laura Nyro (almost) and many more - weren't enough, we also have some breaking news about the future of her brother, a world-famous songwriter in his own right due to FAME, Michael Gore's infamous Broadway musical CARRIE may be making its way back to the boards very soon - which is the epitome of good news for Broadway babies who have wanted to know! Bloody lucky Broadway will be to have CARRIE - and the disarmingly warm and exceptionally delightful Lesley Gore!

This afternoon I had the chance to conduct an InDepth InterView with Drama Desk-winning stage actor and director Brian Murray who currently stars alongside Elizabeth Ashley in Edward Albee's new off-Broadway farce ME, MYSELF & I. BWW will be running a series of articles on that production and its performers all next week, but this news was too good to hold all weekend! Murray dishes on his new 2011 'horrific chiller' co-starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz and Naomi Watts directed by esteemed director Jim Sheridan (MY LEFT FOOT, THE BOXER, GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN', BROTHERS), as well as playing Alec Baldwin and Nathan Lane's alcoholic father on 30 ROCK (married to Elaine Stritch!) and his warm words to his TWELFTH NIGHT co-star Kyra Sedgwick on her Emmy win as Best Actress for THE CLOSER last week! This is merely the 'I' of the 'Me, Myself & I' of InDepth InterView: Brian Murray and the series on the new Albee play! Stay tuned.

Last week I conducted an illuminating InDepth InterView with legendary producer and director Harold Prince in which we discussed his singular career, having won more Tony Awards than any other person on the planet for his near one-hundred productions since his start as George Abbott's assistant producer over fifty years ago. He produced such landmark musicals as DAMN YANKEES, THE PAJAMA GAME and WEST SIDE STORY in the 1950s and then went on to become a director in his own right with Kander & Ebb's FLORA, THE RED MENANCE (Liza Minnelli's Broadway debut), CABARET into the Sondheim series of masterpieces in the 1970s - COMPANY, FOLLIES, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, PACIFIC OVERTURES, SWEENEY TODD - bridging into his two biggest commercial successes, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals EVITA and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Celebrating its 23rd year on Broadway in January, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the most successful entertainment of all time, more than any other musical, television show or even feature film in history. It's a juggernaut like no other and the mystery, magic and majesty that had made the show such a rousing success is thanks to the masterful eye-of-all-eyes, the true master director of the American Theatre, Harold Prince. But, will he be doing the sequel?

Today we are listening to the Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording of The Public Theater's Broadway-bound punk rock musical BLOODY, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON which is, without question, the very best Broadway score to blaze upon the boards in years. It's bloody, bloody brilliant. It's everything SPRING AWAKENING tried to be (and sporadically succeeded in showing, but not singing) but it effortless evokes the passion, fire, drive and earthy bite of the early eighteenth century combined with the apathetic overtures masking a cowering fear which defines the plight of the twenty-first century generation, Gen Y. A meta-musical and a concept musical but an effective and engaging one. This musical is x to the nth degree. It's everything every Broadway show should be: innovative, provocative, exciting, original and featuring a score with not one weak link! Conceive yourselves quite lucky and Say, 'Yea! Yea!'

Today we are talking to the heart-stopping bombshell of BODY HEAT and PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED, the satirical queen of comedy in SERIAL MOM, the Mother of mass suicide in THE VIRGIN SUICIDES and the unforgettable dog-trainer in MARLEY & ME, as well as the greatest Martha since Uta Hagan in the Edward Albee's ferocious work of staggering genius, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF; star of stages and screens all over the world, the one and only Kathleen Turner. Talking theatre (her new play HIGH), film (past and future, including a few in the can such as one co-starring Jason Ritter), television (she plays David Duchovney's confidant on CALIFORNICATION), and her erudite insights on the cultural significance of the basic arts - like theatre - in a technology-drenched world. Ms. Turner also talks about working with Francis Ford Coppola, John Waters, Edward Albee, Michael Douglas, William Hurt, James Woods, Kirsten Dunst, Sofia Coppola, Jason Ritter, Emily Deschanel and a host of other huge Hollywood and/or Broadway heavyweights. Her unmistakable voice and spirit paw and purr through every word she selects, she is the cat's pajamas - or should I say, cat's negligee.